Vampire Mythology – Carpathians

No other place in modern lore evokes the concept of vampires than the fictionalTransylvania set in the Carpathian mountains, and the factual story of Vlad the Impaler, the historical Dracula. Legends of the Strigoi Vii (plural), Strigoi Viu (singular) or “living vampire witches” in Romanian, were also known the “moroii” which translates to be “nightmare” from Slavic. Vampires of this type were living humans who through metaphysical means could leave their bodies and feed upon the life-force of people in the area.

In death the Strigoi would become Strigoi Morte, or undead spirits, which were not considered demons or malevolent spirits. According to to folklore and gypsy tails unlike other vampires could live off the directly life-force of humans and did not need to feed only on blood. They would be tall, beautiful, pale and often beautiful individuals who were very well educated and aristocratic.

Legends persist that indeed the most famous of all the vampires, Dracula, which literally meant “son of the dragon” was actually Strigoi Vii. Further to note gypsy lore says that most of the local nobility were Strigoi Vii and the fabled Order of the Dragon was actually an order of the Strigoi Vii, with the word Dracul meaning not only dragon in Romanian, but also demon and vampire. Few realize that Dracula was not even the head of the Ordo Dracul, it was the reigning king Matthias Corvinus, who some claim was also Strigoi Vii. There is no solid evidence on these claims; only legends, yet in modern times many living vampires prefer to address themselves as Strigoi Vii;a more discrete alternative to vampire which has many connotations.